alumni-news
Kent State Celebrates Its Newest Graduates With Summer Commencement Ceremony
The Kent State University alumni family will grow by more than 1,000 new graduates as the university holds its summer commencement ceremony on Aug. 10.
Kent State Raises $383 Million in Record-Breaking Fundraising Campaign
Kent State University recently concluded its most successful fundraising campaign in its 114-year history. The Forever Brighter campaign ended in June 2024, having raised more than $383.2 million total.
Kent State Alumna D’Andra Mull, Ph.D., on Giving Back to the University that Gave So Much to Her
“Were it not for what I learned from a student affairs professional at Kent State, this journey would not be the path I’m on today.”
Meet Anthony Claytor, the First I PROMISE Program Scholar to Graduate From Kent State
In 2020, Kent State University President Todd Diacon announced to a group of high school juniors and their families that Kent State would cover four years of tuition costs and one year of room and board. Now, for the LeBron James Family Foundation’s first I PROMISE class, the hard work these students had put in since third grade is paying off.
Carl Walz, ’77
Carl Walz, ’77, has spent 231 days in space - and it all began with a physics degree and the Air Force ROTC program at Kent State. From a nuclear lab to the cockpit of a jet plane to the crew compartment in a rocket ship, Carl attests that his career has been “a wild ride.”
From Passion to Purpose
Drawn to healthcare as a child, Athalia James pursued that passion all the way to a fulfilling career in nursing.
Institute Explores Peace and Conflict
LaKaleb Bowen, ’24, is a criminology and justice studies major who admits to becoming captivated by Kent State’s education-abroad programs, noting that his most recent trip to Kigali, Rwanda, was an extraordinary experience focused on peace and conflict in the country.
Kent State Secures Two $1 Million Gifts in Support of Global Education
Kent State University has announced two substantial philanthropic gifts in support of the Global Education Endowment, which was established in 2022 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Kent State’s education-abroad presence in Florence, Italy.
Sharing Their Love of Education with Future Generations
Kent State University has held a special place in the hearts of Lynda Grieves and her husband George “Bill” Grieves Jr., ’58, who passed away in 2019. For their 60th wedding anniversary, Bill and Lynda chose to create a scholarship through a charitable gift annuity instead of having a party.
Rollie, ’64, and Frances Layfield Help Students Build Skills for Success
Hard work and discipline are a driving force for Rollie Layfield, ’64, and they have served him well throughout his life and his career in business. He credits both his degree program in business administration and his time in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at Kent State University for helping him develop the leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational skills to thrive after graduation.